2nd ascent - stopped only long enough to sign the register (surprised to see one on Dana - had to sign the cover since it was so full), then proceeded on to Gibbs, then back to SR 120 and 3mi of road-walking back to Tioga Pass.

On a random day about six weeks after Mom died, I left Modesto at 6 in the morning, reached Tioga Pass at a little before 10, and was on top of Mt. Dana before 1 pm. The reason I chose Dana was because Mono Lake was one of Mom's favorite places. She loved to watch the light change, and feel the clouds and shadows creep across the lake. The view of Mono Lake from Dana is sublime. The wind was howling that day, the cloud ceiling to the west was about 12K feet and a few snow flakes fell. I was physically cooked on top. I can't explain the peace, contentment, total relaxation and state of bliss I felt as I let myself finally emotionally unwind on top and on the walk down.

Soft snow all the way up which may be a little unusual this late in July. With the big heat wave it was nearly 80 degrees at Tioga Pass. Still, it was great to get away for a few hours from 112 degrees in the East Bay!

Took a couple hours from the Tioga entrance station - beautiful wildflowers! Wasn't as difficult as I imagined it to be; it's just an "advanced" hike. It's got to have one of the top "payoff to effort" ratios in Yosemite.